The Semmerling LM4 is a five-shot, manually repeating double-action pocket pistol. Concept and History The Semmerling series of pistols included the LM1, LM2 (.380 ACP semi-automatic variant), LM3 and the XLM (.45 ACP semi-automatic variant) and LM4. The only version available to the public was the LM4, which was first designed and manufactured in the US in the early 1980s and marketed at a price of US$645. The "LM" in the model numbers stands for "Lichtman Model", after the inventor of the design, Philip R. Lichtman. Lichtman applied for and received at least four United States Patents related to the design. The goal of the LM4 was to achieve a combination of the highest practical firepower in as small and light a gun as possible, so as to be easily concealable. This was approached by selecting the service caliber of .45 ACP for its proven stopping power and opting for a manual repeating mechanism to minimize bulk and weight and ensure flawless operation in the most difficult situations. Because of this the LM4 was first offered to the U.S. Army and government agencies. The Semmerling LM4 is simple, having only 33 parts (including screws). The original design called for every part except for the springs to be made of S-7 tool steel. Every pistol was Magnafluxed (a method of testing ferrous metals for surface and subsurface flaws) twice in their assembly. Each pistol was essentially handmade to order with production averaging a little over ten pieces a month. Of the LM4 model, only about 600 were ever produced. Although the Semmerling was intended as a back-up pistol for those most at risk of having their primary weapon taken from them, some adopted the pistol as a "hide-out" weapon. It is capable of a "shot-a-second" firing rate. With the magazine loaded and a round in the chamber, the Semmerling LM4 is capable of carrying five .45 ACP rounds. During 2005, the largest collections of Semmerlings comprising examples of the LM1, LM2, LM3, LM4 and the XLM along with all prototypes, tooling, drawings, production and testing equipment, advertising materials and leather accessories were provided to the National Firearms Museum, the Cody Firearms Museum and the Smithsonian. The XLM was a military contract for an automatic version (not manually operated), making the Semmerling XLM the smallest .45 ACP semi-automatic pistol ever produced. The XLM was based on the LM4 and utilized a "strip